As college graduates prepare to enter the workforce, investing is often far from their minds. However, when people begin investing early, they set themselves up for greater security down the line. Part of the disconnect between young people and investing lies in the sea of acronyms associated with making investments and a perceived steep learning curve. To help make this learning curve less unnerving, a number of excellent tools were designed with the needs of young investors in mind. Below are some of the top apps that young individuals should check out to jumpstart their financial lives.
Clink
This new app is designed for the passive saver. The algorithm of the app looks at time horizon and wealth to guide the development of a portfolio. Users link the app directly to their bank accounts and then set up regular transfers into their investing account that can be done daily, weekly, or monthly. They can also connect the account to a credit card and designate the transfer of a certain percentage of a certain type of transaction, such as food or clothing purchases, to the investing account. The developed portfolio consists entirely of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Users pay no fees to Clink, which earns its fees from ETF sponsors.
Divy
Seeking to create an investment-centered social network, Divy connects friends and family members through investing opportunities. Users can invest increments as small as $10, which makes the network widely accessible. Divy’s founders want people to build confidence in investing while feeling reassured by the personal network aspect—the idea is for users to discuss investing ideas with friends and family. To use the service, customers first need to open an account with a broker that actually processes orders from the app.
Betterment
Those who are looking for the most straightforward experience possible may like Betterment. With this tool, users enter their age and choose from a list of general investing goals. Then, the program automatically invests deposited money in stocks and bonds across 12 different global asset classes. Betterment has no minimum investment, so users can start off with small monthly direct deposits from their bank account. Using the app, they can track the progress and performance of their investments in real time.
Acorns
One of the most unique apps available, Acorns generates investment funding by rounding purchases up to the nearest dollar. Users link their credit and/or debit cards to the account, and the difference is deposited into an investment account. Then they can choose to invest in one of six different funds, depending on how much risk they want to accept. Customers are charged $1 monthly for their account as long as it stays below $5,000. After that, the fee is 0.25 percent of annual assets.
Robinhood
The perfect app for the inexperienced investor, Robinhood makes investing as easy as pressing a button. The mobile-focused tool guides customers through the investing process and uses a simple brokerage service that charges no trading fees. At the same time, Robinhood accrues interest from the noninvested cash balances in user accounts to make money so that customers never have to fear any hidden fees.
Openfolio
Once people have some degree of comfort with investing, they may want to learn more about how others approach investing. Openfolio is a great tool for this. While not a true social network, Openfolio largely operates like one by allowing users to observe the investment strategies of their trusted friends and business connections while posting their own strategies and getting feedback. When people allow others to view their portfolios, investments are presented in terms of percentage allocations rather than dollar amounts.
Rebalance IRA
A great resource for getting a head start on retirement savings, Rebalance IRA charges only 0.5 percent in advisory fees and uses unique in-house software to generate the best retirement plans based on age and goals. Through the app, users can set up free one-on-one discussions with retirement investment officers. The service has won accolades for its transparency and includes a former management director of IBM Retirement Funds on its advisory board.
iQuantifi
A sort of virtual financial advisor, iQuantifi offers young investors financial planning advice based on their specific goals. Through iQuantifi, users can save for certain milestones, such as purchasing a home or even retiring. Once individuals enter their goals into the site, the algorithm determines the exact steps necessary to achieving those milestones. People who are unsure about the service can try it for free for 30 days, but after that they must pay a monthly subscription fee of $9.95. To save money, users can purchase annual access for $89.
FinMason
A great resource for novice investors, FinMason gives unbiased information about the investment world. Rather than selling advice, the resource helps users understand what advice is best for them. All information is presented using simple means, such as bar graphs, to facilitate direct portfolio comparison. FinMason has conducted research into how young investors best process information so as to present its findings in the most effective way possible.